Vulcanizer



July zo 1926.

o'. J. KUHkKE vULcAnz'ER- 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April l, 1926 INVENTOR.

- 0770 J /IUMLKE BY@ 'f @l A TTORNEY.

- 1,593,179 o. J. .KUHLKE vULAN'IzER Filed April l, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 0770 J. /ff//HL/ ATTORNEY.

July 20,1926.

' O. J. KUHLKE VULCANIZEH Filed April 1, 192e 4 sheets-sheet :s

I IN-VENTOR. 0770 J. /f'fuH/ KE cw 9 Amm/vg@ July 20 1926.

' O. J. KUHLKE VULGANIZER Filed Aprii 1, 192e A4 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTR. Y OTTO J. KUHLKE BY O 3 l ATTORNE lfntentetl July 2id, M232@ f u it il. Lanai VLCANZER.

application filed April l., 1926. Serial No. 98,970.

rllhis invention relateslto vulcanizers, and while it is designed particularly and especially for the `vulcanization of endless elasf' tic bands such as tire flaps, the principles of the invention may, be extended for other purposes and for wider utility.

'lll

1e object of the invention is to construct a vulcanizer for the curing of trough-shaped vulcanize the flaps in a short space of time and without loss of material.

lin the'drawings and descriptionthere `is shown one form of the invention, it being understood that changes and modifications may be made within the scopeof the invention as set forth in the claims attached hereto.

Of the accompanying drawings: u

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the im proved vulcanizer;

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof when closed;

Figure 3 isa `front elevation when open; and

Figure 4 is a vertical diametral section therethrough.

The vulcanizer' of the present invention comprises a 4drum or form which is provided with a circumferential trough or Channel of the shape of the inner surface of the band of elastic material or tire flap. About the drum is arranged an expansible jacket which is provided with mechanism by,which the jacket is opened and closed and at the same time spaced from the drum. The jacket is bags which exert pressure upon the material r to shape it properly and the jackets are formed with chambers adapted to receive steam for vulcanization, heating arrangements may be made. drum 1s rotatably mounted. and is also slidably mounted so as to be movable from between the jackets, as will be explained, to

and-the removal of the completely vulcanized flap from. the machine.

although other The The mechanism herein shown. comprises a base member 1 which is provided With the vertical standard 2 which supports the various elements of the device. At the center of the standard is arranged a bearing 3 in which is secured the horizontal shaft 4 which projects outwardly beyond the standard and slidably supports the drum or form 5, which is movable upon the shaft in the manner stated so as to ermitthe easy insertion and removal of t e Hap. The drum 5 is vfreely rotatable on the right end of shaft 4 (Figure 4)f but isadapted to be keyed to the other end of shaft -4 by key 4a for a pur pose to be explained. rllhe drum is provided with an outer peripheral portion 6 which is formed with a central groove or channel 7 of the shape ofthe flap.

Lying within the enclosed side walls of 'the channel are two expansible Wall members or air bags 8 adapted to be inflated by air or other fluid under pressure through valves 9. A strip of covering material 14 may be placed over the bags to cover the cracks at the sides of the bags and afford a smooth surface. Pressure is 'transmitted to these air ba'gs through exible'pipes 10 which are connected by a l`coupling 11 to a passageway 40 through the shaft which receives the air underpressure from an air inlet pipe 12 Which passes through the central shaft 4. By connecting the bags flexibly the air connections do vnot interfere with the free rotation or sliding of the drum, the drum being shown in light dotted lines in Figurel in the curing position, the stripping position being shown in heavy dotted lines. In order to relieve any strain upon lthe pipes 10 in the rotation of the drum, the coupling 11, which is swiveled in the end of the shaft,

carries a rod or closed pipe 41 which passes through a hole 42 in one of the drum spokes.

This operates as a dog to turn the coupling with the drum.

The outer jacket 15 of the machine is in the form of two semi-circular casings or plates provided upon their inner faces with a projecting rib 16 which enters the groove and forms the outer surface of the molding cavity.Y rllhe jackets 15 are chambered, as shown at 18, for the reception of steam, the inlet and drain pipes for which are shown at 19eand 20, respectively. j

A'.llce two parts of jacket 15 are hinged to'- I' gether at the base of the machine by a pin 2l passing through the lugs 22 on the jacket, one of the lugs being extended to and pivoted at 23 upon aI support 24 Situated at the hase of the machine; so that the whole jacket is pivotally supported o`n the base.

rlhe two jacket sections l5 are adapted to be opened and lclosed and simultaneously moved away from or toward the4 drum, the double pivotal arrangement -of the jacket sections permitting this. result. In order to move the jacket sections each one is provided With a lug 28 to which is pivotally con nected a curved rack 29, the two racks being oppositely faced and lying upon either side of and meshing with an operating pinion 30 carried upon a crank shaft 31, which is rotatably mounted in a bracket 32 secured to the upper end of the upright 2. As the cr: f

3l is rotated the jacket sections will open and close between the positions shown in Figures 2 and 3, it being observed that in the position shown in the latter or open view the drum 5 may be. drawn outwardly along the shaft to the position where it is most easily operated upon. The last tooth of each rack is enlarged and operates as a stop or means for suspending the jacket sections in open position.

In order to clamp the jacket sections 15 together, any suitable mechanism may be provided. For this purpose, I have shown a swinging link 34 attached to one of the jacket sections and having a swinging cam lock 35 at its free end receivable over the lu'g 36 upon the end of the other jacket section. A tight clamping of the two jacket sections is thereby' attained.

The inner circumferential heating jacket is shown at 37 and comprises an annular casting bolted to standard 2 and .having a slot therethrough at 38 through which the inner air bag connection l() lmay extend. The key'4 4 is adapted to position drum 5 properly so that this connection may extend through slot 38 when drum 5 is moved between jackets 15 and 37. The outer surface of jacket 37 is tapered as at 39 and the inner surfaceof drum 5 is tapered as at 43 to facilitate slidin'g of drum 5 into seating relationship on inner jacket 37. Jacket 37 is chambered as at 44 and is connected to a source of steam at 45, 45 and to a drain at 46. The inner jacket 37 is for the purpose of heating the inner portion of the jacket 6 so that the under surface of the flap is thoroughly vulcanized.

The operation and advantages of the device will be readily understood by those skilled inthe art, and it will be observed that detailed adherence to the exact con struction is not necessary to obtain the full benets of the invention. In the'manufacplaces a band of unvulcanized rubber upon I vice 34. Air'pressure is then admitted to the bags 8 by opening the cock 13, and steam being admitted to the jackets, the flap 1s cured between the hot surface of the jackets and the air bagswhile being heated from within by the inner jacket. A reversal of the operations permits the removal of the cured flap which will be found to be perfectly cured to shape, without waste.

Modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the 'appended claims.

What is claimed is:

Vl. In an apparatus of the character described, a support, a vertical form slidably and rotatably mounted upon the support, a sectional jacket adapted to surround the form, means for opening and closing the jacket, and a second jacketabout the inner periphery of the form.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a horizontal shaft, a form slidably mounted upon the shaft, a sectional jacket surrounding the form, means to open and close said jacket, and a second jacket about the inner` periphery ofthe form.

3. In an apparatus for vulcani-Zing tile flaps or the like, a vertical form having a groove 'upon its outer periphery, a sectional jacket about the form, means for opening the jacket and removing it from contact .with the form, and a'second jacket about the inner periphery of the form, the form being mounted so as to be movable toward and from the jackets.

4. In an apparatus for Vulcanizing tire flaps or the like, a vertical rotatable form having a groove upon its outer periphery, a sectional jacket about the form, means for opening the jacket and removing it from contact with the form, 'and a second jacket about the. inner periphery of the form.

5. In an apparatus for vulcaniziug lthe flaps or the like, a circular` form having a substantially V-shaped cavity in its periphery, a sectional jacket about the f0rm,'a rib upon the inner surface of the packet and adapted to enter the cavity, a second jacket about the inner periphery of the form, and an expansible airbag seated within the form and constituting an inclined Wall thereof.

6. In an apparatus for vulcanizing tire flaps or the like, a circular form having a substantially V-shaped cavity in'its periphture of flaps, the operator, having moved ery, a sectional jacket about the form, a

the drum to the outer end of the shaft 4,

second jacketabout the inner periphery of the form, and an expansible air bag seated` within the-form and constituting a wall of the cavity.

'i'.'ln an apparatus for vulcanizingv tire -laps or the like, a Icircular form having' a which the form is slidable, a flexible conduit to the bag, an expansible chambered jacket surroundin the form, means for conducting steam'to .t Vie ja.cket,.- a second chambered jacket aboutthe'inner periphery of the form, means for conductlng steam to the second jacket, and mechanism adapted to expand the jacket and simultaneously-lower itfaway from the' form.

9. In an apparatus of the character -described, a circular form, an expansible bag within the form and forming one Wall of a vulcanizing cavity therein", a lshaft upon which the form is slidab-le and rotatable, a

flexible conduit to thel bag, an expansiblef chambered jacket surroundingA the form, means for conducting steam to the jacket, a second chambered jacket about the inner periphery of the form, means for conducting steam to thesecond jacket, and mechanism adapted to expand the first jacket and simultaneously lower it away from the form.

10. Apparatus of the class described, comprising concentric mner and outer circumerential jackets, said outer acket being expansible, and a circumferential form axially movable between thejackets into seating relationship on the inner jacket into position such that the outer jacket maybe contracted thereon.

l1. Apparatus of the class described, cornprising concentric inner and outer circumterential heating jackets, and a circumferential iorm axially movable-between the jackets, said form having a molding cavity in one periphery'thereof, one of said jackets having a molding surface for extending into said cavity, said last-mentioned jacket being expansible andcontractible so as to move said molding surface.A into or out of said cavity.

l2. Apparatus of the class described, com-- prising a verticali-ly supported inner, annular heating jacket, a concentric vertically supported. outer, expansible, annular heating jacket, and a form axially slidable between said jackets, the outer surface of the firsty jacket and the inner surface of the form beingv tapered so that the lattery may be urged into seating relationship on the` former in line with the outer jacket.

13. In an apparatus for vulcanizing tire flaps or the like, a circular form havingv a vulcanizing cavity in its periphery, a sectional jacket about the form, an expansible air bag lying within a wall of the cavity, and means for heating the material within the cavity comprising an inner circumferentialjacket.

14.- Apparatus of the class described, comf prising concentric inner and outer circumteren-tial jackets, a circular form provided Wlth a peripheral cavity and movable between the jackets, and an air bag in said cavity, said inner jacket being chambered for the reception of a heating medium.

15. Apparatus of the class described, comprising' an inner circumferential jacketformed with a slot therein, av shaft concentric with said jacket, a circular form shiftable onto said jacket and rotatable on said shaft,l a pressure bag in said form, and a connection extending to said bag, said shaft having means thereon for aligning said connection with said slot when `said form-is shifted onto said jacket.

GTT@ J. KUHLKE. 

